BRENTFORD have beaten the transfer deadline to sign Sunderland keeper Trevor Carson on loan until the end of the season.

The Bees were short of options between the sticks after Richard Lee was ruled out with a shoulder injury, leaving just rookie Simon Moore and goalkeeping coach Simon Royce as the only senior keepers at the club.

Nicky Forster told the Gazette earlier this week that he planned to bring in a replacement for Lee, and the Brentford boss has landed 23-year-old Carson after he was recalled from a loan spell with Lincoln City.

The Northern Irishman is yet to make his first-team debut for the Black Cats, but has experience in the Football League with Chesterfield and the Imps.